The band admit they didn't think 'The Holy Bible' classic could go it alone

Andy Willsher/NME

https://link.brightcove.com/services/player/?bctid=1202102604001Manic Street Preachers have admitted that they didn’t initially think that ‘Faster’ was worthy of being a single.

Speaking to NME in a video which you can see by scrolling to the top of the page and clicking, frontman James Dean Bradfield admits that the song didn’t stick out as being something the band should release, despite the band choosing it as their favourite in the current issue of NME.

He said: “When Richey [Edwards] gave me the lyrics to ‘Faster’ I didn’t realise it was a single. I think that’s the reason ‘The Holy Bible’ has stood the test of time is that the album tracks are better than the singles.”

Bassist Nicky Wire added that there has always been a tension between his own “rampant commercialism” and his bandmates’ “artistic desires”.

Wire previously said that the band are set to go on hiatus following the release of their forthcoming greatest hits compilation ‘National Treasures – The Complete Singles’.

He said:

It’s the end of an era, not the end of the band but we’re going to disappear for quite a long time.